Select Local Merchants

At Drifter's Sports Bar and Grill, guests can expect one of the better-priced meals in Kingston. Come by for the outstanding food and stay for lightning-fast service. You'll be a regular at Drifter's before you know it.
Though the overall price can be a bit on the low side, you won't be sacrificing any quality.
If you just feel like stopping by for a beverage, the restaurant has helpful bar staff (and a good selection behind the bar).
Add it all up, and Drifter's Sports Bar and Grill is definitely an appetizing option to quell that next munchies craving.

Baseball players can't skimp on their hitting, pitching, and catching skills if they want to dominate the game—a fact that the instructors at Northshore Sports Complex know well. In 1982, Cody Webster earned the title of MVP while playing for the Kirkland Nationals All-Star Team—the first US team to win the Little League World Series. He continued to play throughout high school and college, and went on to coach for Pepsi Baseball. His cohort, Eve Gaw has spent a combined eleven years with the University of Washington softball program
as a student athlete, volunteer assistant coach in the late 90’s and assistant coach from 2005-2008. Together, the duo shares the task of teaching students the fundamentals of the game inside batting and pitching cages.
Surrounded by a chain-link fence and divided by safety nets, their astro-turfed cages shelter machines that launch baseballs and softballs straight down the plate. These projectiles can reach speeds up to 85mph, which would be really scary if the baseballs weren't tranquilized beforehand. Sans the machines, pairs can take to the cages to hone their pitching and catching abilities.

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title: Soft Tail Spirits
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html_text: The bracing Italian-style brandy known as grappa flows from a vintage hammered-copper still and into oak barrels for aging at Soft Tail Spirits, a craft distillery that gathers its grape pressings from local Washington wineries. An Old-World still's 58,000-BTU burners boil up fresh batches of grappa, with characters of pear and apple-tinged Giallo and the pleasingly grainy sangiovese. Meanwhile, a multistep distillation process whips up batches of Soft Tail Spirits' sipping vodka, the slightly rebellious offspring of Washington State apples that took home the bronze at the 2010 World Spirits Competition in San Francisco. Lead distiller Matthew welcomes visitors to the distillery for tours in which he shows off the facility, including the hammered-copper alembic he affectionately calls “Maggie,” before doling out samples and bestowing grappa converts with souvenir glassware for future bacchanalian feasts or Flat Earth Society meetings.

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title: Woodinville Wine Tastings
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html_text: Woodinville Wine Tastings unites several wineries that sit within a pleasant walk of each other. John Patterson of Patterson Cellars lets more than two decades of experience shine through in swirling elixirs. At Pondera Winery, guests mingle in a tasting room that doubles as a gallery of rotating exhibits by well-known artists as they sip red blends that show a range of crimson shades like a bull’s anger-management counselor. Bordeaux grapes from a handful of Columbia Valley vineyards dominate the shop’s cuvee, and guests at Elevation Cellars click together glasses of a sauvignon blanc that hints at grapefruit and apricot.

The Outdoor Adventure Center's wildly experienced guides have led groups off the grid for more than a quarter century, pursuing rugged fun in the scenery and fresh air of mountains, rivers, and coastlines. Explorers at heart, the staff boldly launch kayaks into the ocean around the San Juan Islands and conquer the frothy waters of the scenic Skykomish River, known for its beginner-friendly rapids, migrations of spawning merpeople, pool and drop areas, and breathtaking views of 5,000-foot mountain peaks. Horseback and hiking trips delve into the lush woods, and nature photography excursions pause to celebrate the beauty of the wilderness near Index. The core team of 14 guides takes safety seriously, most with certifications from the American Canoe Association, training in wilderness first aid, CPR, and swiftwater rescue, and life vests tattooed over their chests.

At its core, the Adventure Park at Redhook is a "jungle gym built for adventurers." But more than that, it provides visitors with an escape from the everyday drudgery of stuffy offices, boring paperwork, and tedious leg-walking. For the park?s creators, the lush Pacific Northwest countryside that stretches out around the park is the office. They?re a band of adventurers themselves, and they designed Adventura as a way for others to experience the growth, laughter, and connections that seem to bloom naturally outdoors.
Of course, Adventura puts its own spin on spending time outdoors by filling Woodinville Wine Country with a series of sky-high exploits. With the park typically booked 45 days in advance, visitors can be found leaping from decks, balancing precariously on cables 50 feet off the ground, or scaling cargo nets throughout most of the year.

Groupon Guide

Sample rare brews at the Seattle International Beerfest, BYOP (bring your own pillow) to a Frozen sing-along, and groove to Jack White at Paramount Theater. Later in the week, the Cougars kick off the season against the Scarlet Knights, and Arabica Lounge celebrates chess and damn fine pie with a Twin Peaks–inspired night. Have fun, and as always, check out Groupon for more things to do in Seattle.
Seattle International Beerfest
Lower Queen Anne | Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24
This three-day festival celebrating rare and hard-to-find beers gathers together 200 brews from 16 countries right beneath the Space Needle. Admission includes 10 beer tickets, a souvenir glass, and reentry all weekend. Live musical acts including The Haggis Brothers and Jukehouse Hounds provide the soundtrack as guests sip 4-ounce pours on the lawn. (Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion; 305 Harrison St.; $25 in advance, $30 at the door; buy tickets here)
Frozen Sing-Along
Northgate | Monday, August 25, 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
If didn’t spend your summer belting out “Let It Go” in public, well, better late than never. Bring the whole family for this movie night and sing-along at the Northgate branch of the Seattle Public Library. The library will be providing free ice pops, but pillows (for sitting) are BYO. (10548 5th Ave. NE; free)
Jack White
Downtown | Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 p.m.
The former White Stripes frontman hits the Paramount Theatre on tour to promote his second solo album, Lazaretto, which debuted at No. 100 on the Billboard 200 chart and smashed a two-decade-long record for most vinyl albums sold in a week. Pitchfork reviewer Stephen M. Deusner called the album “the densest, fullest, craziest, and most indulgent that White has sounded.” (911 Pine St.; from $70; also playing on Monday, August 25, at 7 p.m.; buy tickets here)
Washington State vs. Rutgers
SoDo | Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.
The Cougars go head-to-head with the Scarlet Knights for the 2014 season opener. Doors open at 6 p.m., but those who show up early can enjoy free activities—including kid-friendly inflatables and performances from the WSU marching band—to celebrate kick-off day. (CenturyLink Field; 800 Occidental Ave. S; $15 with Groupon)
Twin Peaks Chess Night
Capitol Hill | Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m.
Once a month, the breakfast and brunch spot Arabica Lounge stays open late to host a Twin Peaks–themed event it bills as “an evening of backwards talking, damn fine drinks, and friendly chess.” Expect TVs screening episodes of the cult-favorite show, plus themed drinks. Oh, and pie. Of course pie. (1550 E Olive Way; no cover)

As if conjugating verbs wasn’t daunting enough, language lessons often come with a hefty price tag. But did you know there are a number of resources in Seattle where you can learn a new language for free? Below, we broke down a few to help you choose the one that best suits your experience level and learning style.
If You’re Just Starting: The Library
Flipping through language books may evoke flashbacks to freshman French class, but that’s not your only option at the library. Both the Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System give cardholders free access to online learning system Mango, which offers lessons in 63 languages, including French, Spanish, Mandarin, Yiddish, and Urdu (there’s even a surprisingly robust lesson in Pirate). The lessons are interactive and self-paced, and they focus on learning through conversations and context, rather than dry grammar instruction. To use, simply log in through the library website using your card, then create a personal Mango account to track your progress through each course.
For kids, the Seattle Public Library offers access to Muzzy, an online children’s program that offers instruction in 10 languages. The King County Library System’s kids’ program, meanwhile, is Little Pim. It offers a similar range of language options and, like Muzzy, focuses lessons around animated videos and vocabulary.
Both library networks also host live world-language storytimes for little ones in Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Hindu, and Russian, among others. Check out each library’s events page for schedules.
If You’re Ready to Perfect Your Accent: Language Groups
Online programs are great for establishing a foundation, but the best way to hone your developing language skills is through real conversation. Luckily, there are several meet-ups and conversation circles around Seattle where you can interact in your language of choice.
Practicing French speakers—and foodies—of any level will enjoy the French Conversation Table at Café Presse (1117 12th Ave.). Held every other Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the event is facilitated by Yasmina Mobarek, a native French speaker who has taught at the University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University. The conversation is free and happens to coincide with Café Presse’s Vin Expresse—a “Paris-style” happy hour. So you can enjoy some pork confit and well-priced wine with your French chitchat. Chalk it up to research.
Meanwhile, French, German, and Spanish speakers will find a dedicated group of conversationalists at Third Place Commons (17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park). According to director Constance Perenyi, the pace of these groups makes them best for more practiced, intermediate-level speakers, but they are very welcoming to newcomers. The German group generally meets on Monday evenings, French on Tuesdays, and Spanish on Thursdays, but it’s best to check the Third Place Books calendar as they do not always meet every week.
Internet stalwart Meetup also lists a variety of active language groups in Seattle. The large Seattle Spanish Society hosts a fun, loose weekly Sunday-night meet-up at Barca (1510 11th Ave.) in Capitol Hill. The evening is open to advanced Spanish speakers and beginners alike. You can also find active Japanese, Italian, German, and Korean groups on the website. A few of the groups ask for a small annual membership contribution ($5–$15), but this might be voluntary or something you can wait to pay after you’ve gotten a feel for the group and made certain it’s a good fit.
If You Just Want to Order Without Fear: Language Classes for Travelers
If you’re thinking of learning a language for an upcoming trip to Europe, Rick Steves’ Travel Center (130 4th Ave. N, Edmonds) regularly schedules free 90-minute language classes along with its general travel curriculum. The lessons won’t make you fluent, but they can help you pick up a few key phrases in Czech, German, Swedish, Turkish, or Spanish so you can confidently order off a menu or ask for directions. Italian instructor Graz Palumbo-Perry is especially popular for her fun and engaging style; her two-part Beginning Italian for Travelers often fills up fast, so be sure to register early.

This week: eat big at the Seattle Street Food Festival on Saturday to fuel up for Bicycle Sunday. Then, enjoy paella and sangria at Terra Plata, party '90s-style with Counting Crows and Toad the Wet Sprocket, and wrap up the week with Shakespeare in the park. Have fun and, as always, check out Groupon for more things to do in Seattle.
Seattle Street Food Festival
Capitol Hill | Saturday, August 9, noon to 10 p.m.
What started three years ago as the Mobile Food Rodeo has expanded to a full festival of street food. This year’s food trucks include Off the Rez, How Pickle Got Out of a Jam, Lumpia World, Ezell’s Chicken, and Full Tilt Ice Cream. Vendors will all have a $5 menu item to encourage sampling from lots of stops. Also featured: a pop-up picnic, beer garden, and Urban Craft Uprising marketplace. (Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave.; free admission, $5+ individual dishes, $30 VIF pass, $75+ picnic pop-up; buy tickets here)
Bicycle Sunday
Lake Washington | Sunday, August 10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Lake Washington Boulevard is closed to motorized vehicles Sunday, allowing families to take their bikes for a beautiful ride by the shore without any worry about cars or traffic. Consider packing a picnic to enjoy at Mount Baker Beach at the north end of the ride or Seward Park at the south. (Lake Washington Boulevard from Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park; free)
Paella Night at Terra Plata
Capitol Hill | Monday, August 11, 5 p.m.
Terra Plata can be relied on for excellent food every night of the week, but Mondays are especially delicious with special paella selections, pintxos and tapas, sangria, and flights of Spanish wine. For the designated driver in the group, check out the housemade sodas in flavors like jalapeño and mint or black currant and fennel seed. Weather permitting, grab a seat on the rooftop patio. (1501 Melrose Ave.; $15 per person for paella)
Counting Crows at Marymoor Park
Redmond | Tuesday, August 12, 6 p.m.
Smiling in the bright lights and coming through in stereo, Adam Duritz (who turned 50 this month!) and the rest of Counting Crows will take the stage for an outdoor concert at Marymoor Park, where they’ll be joined by openers and fellow '90s hit-makers Toad the Wet Sprocket. (6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. NE, Redmond; $45–$75; buy tickets here)
Love’s Labour’s Lost
Beacon Hill | Friday, August 15, 7 p.m.
Shakespeare in the park is a summer tradition that GreenStage has kept alive through 26 seasons, but this summer is the organization’s first performing at Jefferson Park. This early Shakespeare comedy delivers romantic hijinks galore when the King of Navarre and his pals attempt to swear off women for three years, just as a lovely princess swings into town. (3801 Beacon Ave. S; free; see additional performances here)
Love's Labor's Lost photos courtesy of GreenStage and Ken Holmes